Chapter 4: Microscopy Staining and Classification Flashcards
centimeter
1 * 10^-2 (0.01)
milimeter
1*10^-3 (0.001)
decimeter
1*10^-1 (0.1)
micrometer
1*10^-6 (0.000001)
nanometer
1*10^-9 (0.000000001)
wavelength of radiation
lambda
magnification
-x factor
-the apparent increase in size
resolution
-the ability to distinguish between two separate points that are close together
contrast
-differences in intensity between two objects, or between an object and a background
-is important in determining resolution, staining increases contrast
What type of microscope is used in school?
compound bright field
Simple microscope
-microscope with only one lens for magnifying
compound microscope
-microscope with two lenses for magnifying
Ocular lenses
-lenses that are the eyepieces to see the specimen usually 10X
objective lenses
-lenses that are optical elements closest to the specimen, comes in 4X, 10X, 40X, and 100X
How do you determine total magnification using a compound microscope?
- you multiple ocular lens and the objective lens together
Bright-field compound scope characteristics
-light rays pass through the specimen and into the objective lens
-specimen appears dark against light background
-oil immersion lens increases resolution b/c oil minimizes bending of light (refraction) and prevents damage to lens
-a condenser is used to direct light through the specimen and our scopes have an iris diaphragm to adjust the aperture
-light microscopes cannot resolve structures smaller or closer together than 200 nm b/c shortest wavelength of visible light is 400 nm
Dark-field microscope
-best for observing pale objects
-only those light rays scattered by specimen enter objective lens
-specimen appears light against dark background
Phase microscope
-treat one set of light rays differently from one another b/c light waves are 1/2 wavelengths “out of phase” which increases contrast = better resolution
-they re use to examine living organisms or specimens that would be damaged or altered by attaching them to slide or staining
-light rays in phase produce brighter image, while light rays out of phase produce darker
-two types are phase contrast-microscope and differential interference contrast microscope (Nomarski)
Fluorescent microscope
-direct UV light at a specimen which radiates energy back as a longer, visible wavelength to increase resolution and contrast
-some cells and molecules are naturally fluorescent while others may be stained
-immunofluorescence is used to identify pathogens and locate and make a variety of proteins visible
-confocal scopes use fluorescent dyes but also lasers to take laser thin “slice images” of specimen
Electron microscope
-electrons have wavelengths of 0.01 nm to 0.001nm, which provides greater resolving power and greater magnification
-electron microscope magnify objects up to 1,000,000X
-they provide detailed views of ultrastructure of bacteria, viruses, internal cellular structures, molecules, and large atoms
-electron microscopy is preformed in a vacuum so its only good for fixed (dead) specimens or non living objects
-two types Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
-internal details of cell or object
Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
-external details of cell or object
Simple stains
-only have 1 primary stain
Gram stain procedure from a smear
- Slide is flooded with crystal violet for 1 minute, then rinsed with water
(all cells are purple)
2.Slide is flooded with iodine (mordant) for 1 minute and rinsed with water
(iodine acts as a mordant and all cells remain purple) - Slide is flooded with alcohol/acetone for 10-30 sec and rinsed with water
(gram positive cells are purple, and gram negative are colorless)
4.Slide is flooded with safranin for 1 minute, then rinsed with water
(gram positive cells now purple, gram negative cells now pink)